296
submitted 4 weeks ago by Don_Dickle@lemmy.world to c/til@lemmy.world
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[-] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 110 points 4 weeks ago

I thought it was to cover up syphilitic lesions and just kinda stuck around.

[-] Hawke@lemmy.world 42 points 4 weeks ago

That might be wigs in general, probably not specifically their use in the British legal system.

[-] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 4 weeks ago

That's pretty much what the article says

[-] delirious_owl@discuss.online 45 points 4 weeks ago

Wigs began to catch on in the late 16th century when an increasing number of people in Europe were contracting the STI. Without widespread treatment with antibiotics (Sir Alexander Fleming didn't discover penicillin, the treatment for syphilis until 1928), people with syphilis were plagued by rashes, blindness, dementia, open sores and hair loss. The hair loss was particularly problematic in social circles.

This fucking culture, man. People getting dimensia and going blind, but if they loose their hair then their friends abandon them.

[-] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 6 points 3 weeks ago

To be fair it might have been the fear of catching the disease plus the stigma (it was associated with prostitution and bohemian lifestyle).

[-] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 12 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

It was also a thing of class since white powdered wigs where taxed more if remember right. Cant have the poor people looking pimp in white wigs!

[-] TheWordBotcher@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago

That typo made me chuckle.

[-] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

Ah me to corrected.

[-] Cosmonauticus@lemmy.world 63 points 4 weeks ago

Just looks dumb to me but what do I know

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 34 points 4 weeks ago

If you've ever been inside a British courtroom, you'll discover that they regularly act dumb, too. Lots of pomp and circumstance, but its still the same clueless, vulgar assholes under the hood.

[-] demuxen@lemmy.world 29 points 4 weeks ago

I think that's intentional. It proves their dominance. I mean you have to go to them and they are wearing something very silly and you have to pretend it's not silly, and if you don't they will harm you somehow.

[-] Brickhead92@lemmy.world 10 points 4 weeks ago

Laugh at a lawyer wearing a wig, and they will come to your house at night and cut you!

[-] CouldntCareBear@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 weeks ago

Just some good ol' oppression of the prol's through class.

[-] Nutteman@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago

You know they look dumb as hell, so you have what going for you at least

[-] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 46 points 4 weeks ago

Welp. Considering it does none of those three things, maybe it's time for them to go the way of the buggy whip

[-] Don_Dickle@lemmy.world 11 points 4 weeks ago

Not from Britain but trying to get new slang every day what is a buggy whip.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 17 points 4 weeks ago

The whip used to whip the horse(s) pulling your horse-drawn buggy.

[-] Don_Dickle@lemmy.world 9 points 4 weeks ago

Thank you for educating me... i do appreciate it....no sarcasm.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 9 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

I did pause for a bit, pondering if it was actually some new slang...

Then decided if I'm wrong then it's only on the internet.

[-] SLVRDRGN@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

There's no stopping the start of its rebirth in modern slang. Someone just needs to give it a new meaning.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 3 points 3 weeks ago
[-] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 3 points 3 weeks ago

Ah shit, they be 100% buggy whipping in their whip.

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[-] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago

Just an example of something outdated that's not needed anymore

[-] njm1314@lemmy.world 38 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

I know people are here going like "it makes them look silly." Good. Lawyers need to feel like they look silly. This is a group of people that needs to be taken down a peg every single day. If judges and lawyers can be made humble just a little bit we all benefit in society.

[-] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 8 points 3 weeks ago

They need to be pegged two or three times a day.

[-] Glasgow@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 weeks ago

They think they look good tho

[-] delirious_owl@discuss.online 29 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Wigs are so much a part of British criminal courts that if a barrister doesn't wear one, it's seen as an insult to the court.
...
Most are handmade from 100 percent horsehair, though there are synthetic versions available today, too. Horsehair wigs aren't cheap, either, especially when they're handmade and combine an ages-old craft of styling, sewing and gluing. A judge's full-length wig can cost more than $3,000
...
Those who couldn't afford the best garb but wanted to look the part wore wigs made of hair from goats, spooled cotton or from the hair of human corpses

This is the stupidest and most disgusting thing I've read today, thanks.

[-] lud@lemm.ee 5 points 3 weeks ago

Hair is already dead and animal hair (can't remember which animal) is also used for the best brushes used for painting. IMO as long as the hair is washed which it obviously is, it's not really disgusting.

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[-] tilefan@lemm.ee 18 points 3 weeks ago

are they aware that their attempt at solemnity makes me giggle

[-] tilefan@lemm.ee 5 points 3 weeks ago

I had a lot of trouble taking the courtroom scenes of Broadchurch seriously

[-] Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

We need to stop treating courts and judges like they are sone mythical magical place and judges are mini little emperors in their mini little kingdom. It's just a fucking place people need to go to handle their business. Why the fuck should everyone stand because the guy showed up for his job. All this shit is too much and judges are increasingly out of their minds

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[-] Etterra@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

That's stupid, they're stupid.

[-] icerunner_origin@startrek.website 11 points 4 weeks ago

Time to ditch the Guy Fawkes mask for a powdered wig instead

[-] sundray@lemmus.org 11 points 4 weeks ago

to bring formality, solemnity, and anonymity

That's exactly why Rip Taylor wore a wig, too.

[-] rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago

What it brings nowadays is a bit of yassss, queen!

[-] occhionaut@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Serving court

[-] JimmyBigSausage@lemm.ee 9 points 4 weeks ago

Barristers in Australia wear these also.

[-] Sho@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Amazing cause it does all of those things so damn poorly. You're thinking of Diamond encrusted ivory full head masks instead

[-] Tronn4@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago

"May I approach the bitch?"

[-] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Looks just as silly to me as pantaloons or suits or fedoras

[-] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

And just a bit of fun!

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this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024
296 points (94.6% liked)

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